If you tune into WNYM 970 AM The Answer on Sundays at 1 p.m., you can hear soundtracks from TV shows of the ’70s and ’80s like “All in the Family,” “Soap,” and “Mork and Mindy,” as bumpers to introductions and advertisements on the talk show, “The Jersey Joe Show.” That’s because Joe Sangillo, the creator, producer, and host of the show, is a fan of iconic television of that era.
Along with thousands of other boys back then, Farrah Fawcett of “Charlie’s Angels” was his first infatuation. The TV served as a babysitter for Sangillo, who was born and raised in Weehawken by a single mother. She instilled family values and the ethics of working hard and playing fair in him, his older sister, and younger brother.
Sangillo, who lived in Weehawken until graduation from college, speaks fondly of his childhood hometown. “Everyone knows your name. It’s like a family.”
Sangillo, who lives in Union City after spending 20 years in Jersey City, clearly loves Hudson County. He grew up reading The Weehawken Reporter and The Jersey Journal and was editor-in-chief of his high school paper, The Indian Ink.
After graduating at the top of his class, he received academic scholarships and attended New York University while working part-time jobs and juggling internships at respected broadcasters WCBS-TV and WOR 710AM Radio. At the latter, he credits everything he brings to his talk show to working with veteran consumer reporter, Joan Hamburg. “She was in touch with people and the community.”
He began his media career at WABC-TV as assistant research director then served as manager of program planning and scheduling for Lifetime Television before embarking on a successful career in advertising/syndication with PolyGram Television.
Along the way, he became an actor, appearing on such high-profile soap operas as “One Life to Live” and “All My Children.” Eventually, he returned to the corporate world, writing and broadcasting commentary on topics that impact people’s lives. His passion for media led him to found JSOmedia, the media/consulting firm that launched “The Jersey Joe Show” on July 13 of this year.
Topical, and fun
Sangillo describes the show as “a topical news hour sprinkled with pop culture that’s New Jersey centered.” Indeed, his long-time interest in news, history, and politics blends perfectly with his proclaimed love of New Jersey in the weekly broadcast, which also features Sue Ann Penna, a New Jersey politics maven, as co-host.
Penna, who lived in North Bergen for a time, also hosts the Saturday radio show “Common Sense,” where she and Sangillo met in December 2012. After working together as co-hosts on a few episodes of that show, Sangillo felt it only logical to ask her to participate in his new talk show.
Originally, the intent was to have rotating co-hosts, but Penna’s presence was so well-received, it was decided to have her stay on permanently. “If it ain’t broke, why fix it?” Sangillo quipped.
Sangillo plans to bring in guests for the talk show. Invitations have gone out to Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop and Gov. Christopher Christie and plans to invite Union City Mayor and State Sen. Brian Stack are in the works. On special shows highlighting legal issues, his brother, Paul, an attorney based in Secaucus, will serve as legal analyst.
Keeping it entertaining as well as informative, the show offers two unique and particularly funny segments: D.C. Dimwits, which points out legislators who make questionable choices, and Gallery of Goofballs, which cites “the man down the street” who does something silly.
After doing five shows, Sangillo added a call-in segment to his sixth show. With audience members being able to name their own Dimwits and Goofballs, the call-in portion turned out to be such a success, that Sangillo is making it a staple of the show.
Spotlight on New Jersey
The show originates from downtown Manhattan, but Sangillo is focused on bringing in the New Jersey element. Although national news is covered, the intent is to elaborate on what’s specifically going on in his home state, making sure to tie it in to what’s happening in the rest of the country.
“Hosting a topical news program that merges current events with pop culture has always been a dream of mine,” he said. “I am so proud to be partnering with AM970 to bring the news to listeners in new and creative ways….discussing the issues we face in New Jersey and as a nation.”
What is the future vision for “The Jersey Joe Show?” Sangillo wants the show to be the “go to” source for news, to make it lively, and to cover news that might be missed by other outlets. And he wants to make the news more interesting to young people, so more social media initiatives are being planned. Above all, he wants to see New Jersey “return to a state of prosperity.”
“New Jerseyans are hardworking, confident, brassy people,” he said. “You can’t get the Jersey out of people. When I travel, people ask me, ‘Are you from New Jersey?’ And I proudly say, ‘Yes!’ ”
You can listen to “The Jersey Joe Show” live on Sundays at 1 p.m. on WNYM AM 970 The Answer and you can listen to past podcasts of the “The Jersey Joe Show” at http://am970theanswer.com/pages/podcast.